Royal Bliss takes success in stride; plays Machine Shop June 13

Royal Bliss loves the new tracks so much that it will debut four or five tunes at The Machine Shop on Thursday, June 13.Courtesy Photo

FLINT, MI -- From opening its own 550-capacity club, Salt Lake City's The Royal, to performing top-notch shows, Royal Bliss has never been happier or tighter. Singer Neal Middleton chalks that up its newfound freedom.

"We're kind of cleaning shop, as far as people involved with us," Middleton told MLive-Flint Journal. "We don't have the label and we don't have all the pressures. We're just comfortable. We have this new club that we've opened up. We're happy to be a part of that.

"We've been doing it for so long. You strive and you want to keep getting better and you want to keep getting bigger. We do that, but it's at a slow pace. We're comfortable with that pace now."

As part of its master plan, Royal Bliss is recording a new album. Seven songs into the collection, the band is slated to finish it in late June. However, Royal Bliss loves the new tracks so much that it will debut four or five tunes at The Machine Shop on Thursday, June 13. The new single is due out in August.

"We'll throw in a bunch of new ones and see what people think about them," Middleton said about the show. "We're kind of road testing the songs. We want to get everyone's opinion, as far as it sounds live, see what people think and, hopefully, the reaction is good.

"It's tough when you're writing your own songs. You're so biased because they're your babies. It's good to get that outside opinion."

Middleton, who auditioned for season two of NBC-TV's "The Voice," described the new songs as "similar to some of the other ones."

"We've always been focused on writing good songs, first and foremost," he said. "It doesn't matter if it's a heavy, super hard rock song, or if it's a mellow ballad or acoustic. (The album is) another one of those where there's going to be a song for every mood.

"It's the first time that every person in the band brought a song to the table. The drummer brought in two songs that he had written, as far as the music goes, so did the bass player. It's the first time where every single person wrote the music to something and brought it in. I actually wrote a couple songs with a local hip-hop group here in Salt Lake."

Royal Bliss is using two of those songs and reassures fans that the tracks are not hip-hop.

"It's got a different vibe all around, but we always try to evolve as a band and as musicians," Middleton said. "I think it's going to be the best record we've ever done. We're doing it our way."

That work ethic goes for its performances as well.

"Every time we play any shows, we try to bring the best possible show we can," Middleton said. "It's a band you see on stage and you can tell they love what they do. Fans will get a taste of the new record and new direction of Royal Bliss. I think we're at a new level in the band. I think it'll be more energetic and happier and even better show than you've seen in the past.

"We're at a good place right now. We're extremely comfortable. We bring it every single night and, at The Machine Shop, it's always special for us. If you haven't seen us, come and give us a chance and I have a feeling that you'll feel what a lot of other people feel."

Royal Bliss with special guests Amplaphi and No Resolve
7 p.m. Thursday, June 13
The Machine Shop, 3539 S. Dort Highway, Flint
$12 in advance for the 18 and older show
810-715-2650 or etix.com